Monday 18 January 2016

Current affairs 18 - January - 2016

1)   United States (US) has removed a wide range of nuclear sanctions against Iran after it has meet its commitments to roll back its nuclear programme. These sanctions were lifted after International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed that Iran has met its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPA) or Vienna agreement with P5+1 countries signed in July 2015. So called P5+1 countries include the five permanent members of the UN Security Council (UNSC) viz. USA, Russia, China, UK, France and non- permanent member Germany.

2)   Benefits to India Lifting of primary sanctions will benefit India with lower oil prices on imports from its traditional supplier Iran and also boost trade opportunities. It will also bring proposed India-Pakistan-Iran (IPI) gas pipeline closer to reality. Give impetus to development and construction of strategic Chabbar port which is focal point of India’s gateway to energy rice central Asia and eastern Europe through proposed International North South Trade Corridor (INSTC).

3)   India’s Dinesh Sharma has been elected to the board of directors of the China-sponsored Asian. Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB). He has been elected to the 12-member board through a secret ballot. This is the first board of directors of AIIB in which 57 nations are founding members including India. The inaugural meeting of the board of the governors of the AIIB also held in Beijing after its formal launch. The meeting approved by-laws, rules and codes of conduct for the bank. It should be noted that Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley is the designated governor of the AIIB from India. However he was represented by Mr. Sharma at the meeting. Presently, Dinesh Sharma is serving as Additional Secretary of Union Ministry of Finance.

4)   Chinese scientists have developed a new bio-artificial liver that can help patients to survive from liver failure long enough for an organ transplant. It has been developed by team of researchers from the Shanghai Institute for Biological Sciences and doctors from Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital.

5)   World No. 22 Viktor Troicki from Serbia has won the 2016 WTA Apia International title of Tennis in the men’s single category. He defended this tittle by defeated Grigor Dimitrov from Bulgaria by 2–6, 6–1, 7–6, (9–7) score in the final match played at Sydney, Australia. It was overall his third ATP’s single career title after 2010 Kremlin Cup and 2015 Apia International Sydney title.

6)   Former Sikkim Governor and senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ventrapragada Rama Rao passed away in Hyderabad, Telangana following an illness. He was 81. Rama Rao was one of the founders of Jana Sangh (later became BJP) in Andhra Pradesh. He was also Andhra Pradesh BJP president during 1993 and 1997.

7)   Indian writer Anuradha Roy has won the on the prestigious $50,000 DSC Prize for South Asian Literature for her novel ‘Sleeping on Jupiter’. She was awarded with prize and a unique trophy by Sri Lankan Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe in Colombo. Her novel Sleeping on Jupiter deals with the subject of violence against women with story revolving around girl named Nomi and is set in Jarmuli, a city of temples. She was selected among the 6 shortlisted authors for this edition (sixth) of prize by jury headed by Mark Tully.

8)   Prime Minister Narendra Modi has unveiled the ‘Start-up India, Stand-up India’ action plan in New Delhi to boost startup ventures in the country. The main aim of action plan is to give impetus to innovation and encourage the talent among young people and remove onerous government regulations and red tape.

No comments: